SPRING EDITION home 2013

Rawabi: Right Here, The Women of Rawabi Fayyad: Rawabi Right Now Creates a New Reality on the Ground

Live, Work, and Grow in the first Palestinian planned city Rawabi’s spring comes with the taste of success Welcome to another spring at Rawabi, where buildings are coming up out of the ground with the speed and beauty of Palestiinian flowers. While the flowers that dot the Rawabi hillside are the perfect handiwork of God, we are proud of what we have made here at Rawabi, and we seek to find the balance between divine creation and that of man that is pleasing to behold and represents man’s working to his full potential.

The team spirit that binds the vast number of employees, managers and workers at Rawabi is seconded only by the pride we feel in what we are working to achieve for our fellow countrymen. We invite you to enjoy the latest issue of our Rawabi Home newsletter and look forward to seeing you out at Rawabi within the next weeks.

Rawabi is being developed by Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, jointly NEWSLETTER owned by -based Massar International and Qatari government- SPRING 2013 owned Qatari Diar – two companies with unsurpassed real estate development experience and extensive knowledge of regional and international markets. Rawabi will provide more than 5,000 well-priced contemporary housing BAYTI REAL ESTATE 4 Palestinian PM Dr. Salam Fayyad: Rawabi Creates a New 16 Rawabi’s Architecture finds its Inspiration in Nature units with nine different floor plans to choose from, spread across 23 INVESTMENT COMPANY Reality on the Ground Rawabi, 17 Wild Flowers of Rawabi neighborhoods. The city will also include a commercial center, a business (+970) 2 294 7555 6 The Women of Rawabi district, a hotel and convention center, public and private schools, medical 18 Rawabi’s First Family Has Already Moved In 8 Mothers are a treasure we hold buried in our hearts for all facilities, mosques, and a church, as well as extensive green recreation 19 Palestinian Film “Omar” Wins Jury Prize at the time space. Rawabi will initially be home to 25,000 residents, with additional Cannes Film Festival residential and commercial units slated for subsequent construction phases [email protected] 9 Global Business Leaders Explore Palestine In-Depth Rawabi 20 Rawabi: A Destination for Palestinian University that will ultimately serve a city with a population of 40,000. www.rawabi.ps Highlights Week-Long Visit Students 10 Rawabi: Right Here, Right Now 22 The Hands that Build Rawabi Panoramic view Watch us now on Rawabi Live 24 hours a day 11 Maintaining Sustainability www.rawabi.ps/panorama.php www.rawabi.ps/cams.php 23 Rawabi Visitors 12 Fully Equipped Apartments 4 5 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

During his visit, Fayyad also met one-on-one with local contractors and architectural teams, most of whom are the graduates of Palestinian universities. He congratulated them on their achievements and encouraged them to remain committed and passionate in their careers.

Bashar Masri, Managing Director of Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, was also on hand to express gratitude to the Prime Minister for his visit and to accept his praise for the new city on behalf of the 3,000 workers employed there. Masri also thanked Fayyad for the support he showed for the project from its first days, noting that the public-private partnership that launched Rawabi was Palestinian PM Dr. Salam Fayyad: an integral component in the city’s success. Rawabi Creates a New Reality on the Ground

His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad recently ground. It is succeeding where political efforts in the same toured the City of Rawabi to monitor its progress and to see realm have failed. The Israeli government has not been able first-hand the visible results of a project he championed from to stop the building of Rawabi, in spite of the many obstacles its first days. Fayyad noted in his remarks to an international and hindrances to construction that were put in the path of the delegation of businesspeople that the economic impact of Palestinian developer. This is a fact.” the new city is hard to overstate. “ have proven themselves for decades that they are capable of constructing Fayyad added, “But put political considerations aside and such a vast new undertaking, working as we have in similar consider what we are achieving in the construction of a truly developments throughout the world. Now, we are bringing modern infrastructure here in this city. As an economist, I that talent and industriousness home to the work of building admire the thinking and planning that has gone into this great our own nation. It is long overdue, but it is here, and it is Palestinian endeavor. The underground network of water, happening. And we are proud.” power, fiber optic and sewage lines rival those of developed nations. Municipal functions and schools are already planned Fayyad also noted the importance of the new city as an for, not just for the first wave of residents but for the next impediment to the inexorable creep of Israeli settlement phase of construction as well. This is a modern city built by expansion. “Rawabi is stopping the expansion of Israeli Palestinians for Palestinians, for today and for tomorrow. And settlements by creating a new, immovable reality on the that’s how Palestine is going to thrive in a global economy.” 6 7 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 The Women of Rawabi

Since the idea of Rawabi was first conceived, Palestinian women have played a major role in every aspect of its development. Rawabi’s management has consistently engaged in “gender-blind” employment practices, giving our talented women identical opportunities to achieve and excel. The fields and disciplines of architecture, engineering and management have been historically dominated by men, not just at Rawabi but throughout the world. And as those old patterns have shifted to showcase the superb skills of women entering these fields, Rawabi has afforded scores of Palestinian women the chance to realize not only their ambitions but to fulfill their potential as well. In May, we salute the achievements of Palestinian women and women everywhere.

Vital Voices Recognizes Palestinian Businesswoman Manal Zraiq with 2013 Economic Empowerment Award

Vital Voices is a US- based NGO founded by business groups and the developers of Rawabi, women in the Palestinian work force, inspiring and there is always something each one of us can do for a better former First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton in 1997. the first Palestinian planned city. and guiding young female entrepreneurs on future.” Their mission is to identify, invest in and bring their paths to success. Massar International has long known that In May, Mrs. Zraiq hosted an event at Rawabi attended by more than visibility to extraordinary women around the Mrs. Zraiq is an extraordinary woman. As one On stage at the Kennedy Center in front of 300 Palestinian women who came to share with her the joy of her world by unleashing their leadership potential of the first employees of Massar Associates, an international audience of thousands, Mrs. achievement and to thank her for the contributions she has made to to transform lives and accelerate peace and she worked diligently to advance herself and Zraiq accepted Vital Voices 2013 Economic the advancement of her fellow countrywomen. prosperity in their own countries. the interests of the company, which under her Empowerment Award on behalf of all Palestinian All of us in the Massar International group congratulate Manal on In April, Massar International’s Manal Yaish leadership grew and expanded to become one women. her amazing achievement, and share with her in the pride she has Zraiq was honored in the Kennedy Center of Palestine’s most important corporate groups. From the podium, she said, “Allow me to brought to the city of Rawabi, the Business Woman Forum but most in Washington, DC with Vital Voices 2013 A working wife and mother of three children, dedicate this award to Palestine, and to every importantly, the women of Palestine. Economic Empowerment Award. Mrs. Zraiq Mrs. Zraiq embodies the model of work-life single woman who fights in her own way for was chosen to receive this highly prestigious Read more about Vital Voices work in the world at www. balance. Recognizing the challenges faced by peace. This award is not for what I have done, international award for her achievements as a vitalvoices.org the women of Palestine both at home and in but is a challenge for me to do more for my co-founder of the Palestinian Business Women the work place, she co-founded in 2006 the country. And while we may face things that Watch Manal Yaish Zraiq live at the Kennedy Center in Forum and for her contributions as a partner in Palestine Business Woman Forum, a women’s frustrate us, or frighten us, we must continue. Washington, DC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- Massar International, one of Palestine’s largest empowerment group dedicated to advancing We must keep hope on. There is always hope, TUrB1f4Na0

In the Spotlight: Rawabi Architect Shefa’ Salah

Shefa’ Salah, one of the female architects engaged in the creation of Rawabi, distinguished herself early on as an outstanding student in her years studying architecture at Birzeit Dr. Sherin An-Nather: from Rawabi to France University. A year after graduation, Ms. Salah was selected to design the Samir Awad “The support I received from Bayti Real Estate Investment Company is the basis for my Memorial Garden at Birzeit, also known as “Al Sharafeh”. Her plan for the garden was professional success and allowed me to fulfill my all ambitions as a Palestinian woman unique in its integration of the difficult topography of the site, situated on a steep rocky working in the field of architecture.” slope. In spite of the challenges, she created a welcoming green space that utilized natural terraces and vegetation. These are the exact words of Palestinian architect Dr. Sherin An-Nather, spoken as she was awarded a Ph.D in Archicture by the University of Rennes in France. Dr. An-Nather Ms. Salah acknowledges that the design was the result of working with the topographical was highly instrumental in the masterplanning of the city of Rawabi, helping to guide challenges rather than against them. “Architecture is the practice of constructing the work of US-based AECOM to integrate Palestine’s challenging topography into a buildings and structures, but it’s also an opportunity to incorporate and emphasize the modern, environmentally-friendly city for future generations. environment and surroundings and to make it a part of the manmade world. Just as I brought natural elements into the design of my student garden at Birzeit, so we are doing Her thesis compared Rawabi to other Palestinian cities from the perspective of zoning the same things on a much larger scale in the new city of Rawabi.” and the incorporation of natural landscape into urban design. Dr. An-Nather received highest honors for her work at the French university, where she also obtained 2 Ms. Salah is one of many accomplished female architects and engineers making master’s degrees in environment and law. Dr. An-Nather is an inspiration not only to significant contributions at Rawabi. Palestinian women, but to women all over the Arab world. 8 9 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

Mothers are a treasure we hold buried in our hearts for all time. Every year as we celebrate spring we also celebrate our mothers. This year, Mother’s Day at Rawabi had a special significance. We celebrated all the working mothers who dedicate themselves selflessly not only to their families but to professional careers as well, and to all Palestinian women whose sacrifices make this world a better place in which to live.

Global Business Leaders Explore Palestine In-Depth Rawabi Highlights Week-Long Visit

In May, a 100-person international delegation business community) create the educational he patiently took questions from a lively from the Young Presidents Organization and social framework of the trip, which can audience for more than an hour. Every guest came to Palestine. For most, it was their take more than a year to plan. While the costs stood to applaud him and even during the very first trip to the Holy Land. They hailed are borne by the guests, all the logistical details zarb lunch cooked by Rawabi staff to fete the from every corner of the world and practices including accomodations, transportation and Prime Minister and the YPO delegatiaon, the many faiths; many were Muslim, some were guidance are the responsibility of the local conversation was active and wide-ranging. Christian and still others were Jewish, or chapter members. Hindu, or Buddhist. But what brought them Several YPO members from the Arab world together and brought them to Palestine Imagine if all of Palestine were your home, were moved to tears of pride at the sight of the was the hard work and dedication of YPO’s and you were inviting 100 of your closest new city being built before their eyes, and by Palestine chapter. friends to spend a week with you touring the hope-inspiring words of the Prime Minister. and learning about everything your country Others from the West were astonished at the YPO is an international business organization has to offer. That’s exactly what the Palestine incredible scope of life they had witnessed of 20,000 chief executives. Together they chapter did for the 100 guests who visited in Palestine, from Balata refugee camp in employ more than 15 million people, and their for 5 days and traveled through every corner Nablus, to hardworking entreprenuers and companies are valued at more than $6 trillion of Palestine. From Bethlehem to Nablus to business people in companies in all sectors, USD. This doesn’t mean all YPO members Hebron to Al Aqsa, chapter members helped to the new city of Rawabi springing up from are rich - it simply means that they hold their counterparts understand the deep and the earth. It was a fascinating, eye-opening leadership positions in most of the world’s complex history of Palestine. The experience trip for the delegation, and great warmth major companies, or as entrepreneurs, was called “Live Palestine”. and appreciation was expressed to the having started a global business network and local chapter for the incredible experience of to learn more about the world in which we One of the many stops on the Live Palestine Palestine they had all been given. live and do business through the friendship tour was a visit to Rawabi. All 100 of the and hospitality of fellow YPO members. guests toured the construction site, watched Live Palestine will be hosted again next year the movie, learned about the masterplan and with another new group of YPO members. YPO places a strong emphasis on member the positive impact the new city is having The local chapter believes that the more education - whether at periodic meetings on Palestinian employment and the national people of influence who can come to know held throughout the world, or during visits economy. Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad, the true story of Palestine, the brighter our to host countries such as Palestine. The honored guest and keynote speaker, held future will become. Thanks to the members local chapter members (which comprise a the visitors spellbound with his political of the local Palestine YPO chapter for acting large percentage of the heads of Palestine’s and economic analysis and insights, and as ambassadors of Palestine to the world. 10 11 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 Maintaining Sustainability

Rawabi is a city of many firsts for Palestine. As the first city to be built according to a masterplan, it strives for both sustainability and quality of life with its logical zoning practices and clustering of basic municipal functions for optimal efficiency. These simple concepts are in wide use throughout the world, and for the first time in Palestine, we have an opportunity to apply these best practices to our own development.

It’s very common for residents of neighborhoods, towns and cities to form Homeowner Associations (HOAs). HOAs exist to ensure that each family has an equal say in the matters that affect their daily lives. It’s a small scale model of representative democracy at work. Homeowners from each hai (neighborhood) in Rawabi will elect representatives to serve a designated term as an HOA officer. Officers’ conduct the business of the hai, such as selecting service providers, creating codes of conduct for community living, organizing social functions, liaising with the Rawabi Municipality and a host of other responsibilities. Every homeowner is entitled to run for election to the Board, and rotating terms ensure the full participation of residents.

Rawabi: The HOA also gives each resident a voice and a proper channel to arbitrate minor grievances that arise between neighbors. The HOA can be called upon to amicably settle Right Here, Right Now disputes that sometimes pop up in the course of daily life…a misunderstanding over a parking space, perhaps, or picking up after children or your pets in common areas. The HOA concept is a new one for Palestine but one which is long overdue. It is ever more critical that we create generally agreed upon standards for communal living and enforce the observance of social courtesy as well as the law. Working together through the HOAs, As the story of Rawabi has come to life, custom-designed app that allows the buyer to Rawabi team. Bashar Masri, Managing Director hundreds of Palestinian families have followed explore different layouts and configurations right of Bayti Real Estate Investment Company and Rawabi residents will form a model of lifestyle cooperation that can be replicated in existing its daily progress and monitored its growth. The on the screen. the developer of Rawabi said, “The level of neighborhoods throughout Palestine. first 2 neighborhoods under construction are demand for Rawabi homes underscores that coming ever closer to the date they will be ready Homes at Rawabi are available in a wide range people trust us to deliver on the promises we to receive their first homeowners, and hundreds of sizes and designs to suit the needs of many have made. Few people doubt at this stage of prospective residents have been driving out different customers. Single professionals or a that Rawabi is everything we said it would be, to the Showroom each week, eager to place a newlywed couples just starting out in life may now that you can see for yourself the quality down payment on the home of their dreams. prefer our well-designed, compact efficiency and workmanship of the buildings and the Buying a new home at Rawabi is one of the apartments at 92 square meters and families apartments within them. Why should owning a easiest transactions you’ll ever make, thanks or those who need a bit more space will find beautiful home in a properly zoned city be found to the careful forethought and planning that has homes up to 227 square meters with 2, 3 and 4 only outside of Palestine? Well, it’s right here, gone into the sales experience. Rawabi’s sales bedrooms. A limited number of larger flats (up to right now – and we invite you to come and be a team is equipped with iPads outfitted with a 340 square meters) are also available in specific part of this new Palestinian community.” buildings. One of the most exciting aspects of Rawabi’s “I came back from “Rawabi is a home design is the effortless selection of finishes, tiles and appliances. Interior design specialists the UAE and I was worked with top-quality manufacturers to create Palestinian beautiful combinations of tiles, hardware and planning to build a finishes. The homebuyer simply selects from success story among the multiple suggested options, or house but when I saw creates a combination to suit the family’s unique taste. Either way, the hassle of finishing a new all the planning and the and we wanted home has been entirely eliminated. You can complete your new home and have it delivered life style that Rawabi to you “walk-in” ready with one trip to the to be part of Rawabi Showroom. promises I bought my the story” The excitement and energy being generated by house here”. the volume of prospective buyers flowing through Nihad & Hana’ Kamal, Nablus the busy Showroom is extremely gratifying to the Abdullah Hamed, Silwad” 12 13 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

Upper and lower levels of cabinetry come standard on every Fully Equipped Rawabi apartment. Choice of wood finish, high quality Spanish and Italian made tile, hardware and appliances are available to suit every taste and come pre-installed. The finishing materials APARTMENTS are all crack and wear-resistant to ensure long-lasting beauty in your new home. Sinks are made from a processed granite and are among the best available in the market today.

A new home at Rawabi comes fully equipped with the latest in modern conveniences and technology advances to save homeowners time and money. Typically, homeowners in Palestine have to pay extra to have this equipment installed, but at Rawabi, they are standard features of every living space. Residents KITCHEN have peace of mind knowing that the power of technology is at work to regulate consumption of our natural resources from gas to electricity to water.

Stairwells, parking lots, sidewalks and building access areas are all lit by common area lighting systems that work COMMON AREA on sensors. The well-lit public areas of neighborhoods and LIGHTING the interior common areas of buildings are vital to safety and security.

As with the Rawabi home kitchen, Spanish and Italian bathroom tiles and durable, beautiful fixtures including all sanitary ware are available in a wide range of choices and come pre-installed. Rawabi’s multi-story buildings will all be equipped with the SCHINDLER ELEVATORS highest quality 7-person elevator systems available from 45 BATHROOM Schindler, the world’s leader in elevator technology. DESIGNS

The boilers, condensers, meters and piping are all contained on a single exterior concealed service balcony to eliminate the SERVICE BALCONIES need for using any of the living space in your home for this Smoke and natural gas detectors are installed in every equipment. apartment. If the detector sensors receive an alert of high temperature or the presence of smoke or gas, a building wide alarm will sound with an audible voice instructing residents FIRE ALERT AND to seek the nearest exit route. Fire escape routes are clearly EXTINGUISHING marked.

SYSTEMS In the main electrical board rooms, sensors also deploy the MOTION SENSORS Lighting in critical use areas such a parking garages and most advanced fire extinguishing chemicals in the event of a stairwells are all motion sensor equipped, and all systems in short or a blaze in the electrical room. AND BACK UP critical areas have been built in redundancy to ensure that LIGHTING critical common use areas will never be unlit when a person 14 15 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

Thanks to the innovations shared with us by AECOM, all Rawabi’s buildings are constructed to withstand earth EARTHQUAKE tremors and quakes up to a level 6 on the Richter scale. While RESISTANT BUILDINGS earthquakes are not common in Palestine, the protection is One of Palestine’s biggest building challenges is the conduction considered by seismologists to be well above the level needed of heat and moisture through the natural stone that is used to for human safety in the event of a quake. face apartments and office buildings. At Rawabi, the exterior stone on all buildings is polished and coated with Sealkote 777, a high-grade insulator that deflects heat and blocks moisture seepage.

Water in Rawabi homes is heated with a dual-system solar EXTERIOR WALL water heater, which uses sunlight to heat 150 liters of water INSULATION DUAL-SYSTEM in a reserve tank. The temperature of the water in the reserve tank is then maintained by a supporting boiler, which uses SOLAR WATER very small amounts of gas to keep the insulated reserve tank temperature at the constant level. The dual-system solar water HEATERS heaters saves homeowners hundreds of dollars annually while ensuring a 24/7 supply of hot water to the home. For privacy and heat insulation, residents can operate fully ELECTRIC AUTOMATED automatic window shutters on every main window. The electric shutters help to reduce heat absorption, create a WINDOW SHUTTERS barrier to light and provide additional privacy as needed.

Apartments in Rawabi will be heated and cooled by individual SUPPLEMENTAL Every building at Rawabi has the infrastructure for a generator central systems, with a furnace for heat and a condenser for ELECTRICITY that will create enough electricity to power main appliances for air-conditioning. Air flow is via a system of ceiling and floor even a relatively sustained power outage. ducts for maximum space efficiency and preservation of the GENERATORS room’s aesthetics.

CENTRAL GAS AND CENTRAL HEATING FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS Rawabi’s phone and Internet service will be delivered via high TELECOMMUNICATIONS quality fiber optic cabling, increasing speed of transmission NETWORKS and reducing interference on lines.

The most important aspect of many of these pre-installed, high quality home features is the safety of residents. The second consideration is that the up-front investment in durable, well-made hardware guarantees that the lifespan of several decades under normal usage patterns, as it is in most modern homes around the world. Finally, technology allows us to enjoy luxury and comfort while at the same time improving our efficiencies in our consumption of utilities and natural resources, making a Rawabi home the most environmentally friendly home you can buy in Palestine today. 16 17 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 Rawabi’s Wild Flowers of Rawabi Architecture

shrubs and flowers are densely planted into the city’s green spaces with irrigation systems to beautify the landscape on a finds its scope and scale never before seen in Palestine.

The landscape architects at Rawabi plan to incorporate native- Inspiration growing plant species throughout the green spaces to maintain the natural environment of our migratory birds and land-dwelling animals. As has been evidenced in smaller-scale agricultural preservation sites in Palestine, wildlife actually increases in density in Nature and variety with the introduction of irrigation systems, trees and ground cover plantings. Birds, butterflies, turtles, moles, fox and amphibians gravitate to water and natural food sources, as has been demonstrated in large park areas in major cities throughout the world, proving that ecosystems can be maintained with thoughtful planning and systematic interventions to create viable Beauty is a subjective term, but most generally agree that when habitats. features and characteristics are in proportion and harmonize well together, the result is pleasing Nature, in its blend and Rawabi’s motto of Live, Work and Grow is being applied not only balance of color and symmetry, offers us inspiration. Rawabi’s to our human residents, but to our friends and companions from architects and planners took great care to design a city that the natural world as well. Working together, we will coexist in would not lie atop the beautiful Palestinian landscape, but harmony on the land. would rise from within it, built with the stone and clay of the mountain itself.

Rawabi’s terrain offered both challenge and opportunity to One of the most beautiful aspects of the new city of Rawabi the tens of architects who collaborated on the design of the is the magnificence of its natural setting. The city’s buildings new modern city. The ancient stone lends the city a sense cascade elegantly down the rocky hillsides, circled with wide of grace and tradition that is at one with the loveliness of the avenues and dotted with softening green spaces. The dusky landscape. But behind and under that stone lays a humming gold stone edifices blend into nature’s palette of colors, which infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of today’s society. changes with the hours as the sun tracks it path across the sky.

The terraced design of the city makes efficient use of the Blending our need for living space with preservation of the space available and where the buildings come in contact with natural environment is challenging everywhere in the world, but the earth, rough-hewn “tozbeh” stone is used in retaining nowhere more so than in Palestine. With limited space upon walls reminiscent of building practices of bygone eras. which to build and an ever-growing population, Rawabi brings every technological advance and innovation to the city site. No Building exteriors are faced with a softly finished “mattabah” space is wasted, and the patterns of our daily living are carefully stone, durable and strong but still at one with the natural color integrated into a master design that achieves both balance and palette of the Rawabi hills. Utility poles and above ground separation between areas in which we live with our children and cables are nowhere to be found in the city; all are buried under families, and the areas where we work to sustain them. the street beds and within the walls of the structures, allowing no impediments to the view of the valleys and the sea. In all cases, creating space for the natural world to coexist with the constructed world is a top priority. Rawabi’s hills are rich Within the homes, stone is polished to a sleek, elegant finish, with the flora and fauna of the ancient world, beginning with and a range of color choices provides the perfect starting the beloved olive tree and encompassing countless species of point for homeowner’s individual design taste. The end result trees, grasses, birds and animals. During construction phases, is one of flow and symmetry that will embrace families and hundreds of olive trees were carefully transplanted and are create a welcoming environment in which to live, work and thriving in their new homes along the road into Rawabi, tended grow. carefully by arborists and agricultural experts. Native grasses, 18 19 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 Rawabi’s First Family Has Already Moved In

No matter what your nationality, your in the Showroom and on the grounds, Sides of Peace: Israeli and Palestinian educational or cultural background, eliciting wonder and admiration from Political Poster Art, published in 1998 by Rawabi welcomes all visitors with fresh children and adults alike. The creations are the Contemporary Art Museum with the breezes, sunshine, and breathtaking views so lifelike that it takes a moment to realize University of Washington Press. from our mountainsides. And when you that they are not fellow visitors, but the first Nabil Anani is also one of the most enter Rawabi, you are also greeted by permanent residents of Rawabi! We are prominent Palestinian artists working something seen only rarely in Palestine… grateful to Mr. Mansour and to Mr. Anani to today, and he is considered one of the the charm and beauty of public art. their wonderful contributions to the cultural founders of the contemporary Palestinian aesthetic of our new community. art movement. Mr. Anani held his first Palestine is home to scores of talented exhibition in Jerusalem in 1972, and has artists who work in all mediums. Two of exhibited his work throughout the world the Palestinian art scene’s leading lights, About the Artists for the past 4 decades. . He is considered Suleiman Mansour and Nabil Anani, paid as a key founder of the contemporary visits to Rawabi in 2012. What they saw Suleiman Mansour is considered one Palestinian art movement, and he works both impressed and inspired them. Each of Palestine’s most important painters. as a painter, ceramicist and sculptor. He artist contributed pieces of his work to the During the Intifada, Mr. Mansour was pioneered the use of natural media from public spaces at Rawabi to be enjoyed by renowned for his visual interpretations the local environment such as leather, the thousands of guests and visitors. of the cultural concept “sumud”, or henna, dyes, beads and copper. The “steadfastness”. In 1983 he made a recipient of the first Palestinian National One of the contributions is a sculpture series of 4 paintings depicting destroyed Prize for Visual Art in 1997 and the head of series depicting members of a family Palestinian villages: , Yalo, the League of Palestinian Artists, Mr. Anani engaged in the activities of daily life. The and . He also works in the plays a key role in sustaining a love of art in life-sized figures are placed strategically literary realm, co-authoring the book Both Palestinian society. Palestinian Film ‘Omar’ Wins Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival

At Rawabi, one of the principles that guides development is the standing ovation from the audience at Cannes and is expected to belief that Palestinians share a love of culture which gives rise to be a commercial success as well as an artistic one. world-class talent from within our midst. Rawabi is proud to be the sponsor of Hany Abu Assad’s latest film, Omar. The film won All of us congratulate the director and his talented cast, who once the Jury Prize at the renowned Cannes Film Festival on May 25, more have succeeded in shining a spotlight on the Palestinian and was the only Arab film screened this year. conflict through the medium of film. At Rawabi, we are proud to support the Palestinian cinematic arts through Bayti Real Estate Hany Abu Assad is a well-known Palestinian director whose most Investment Company, but also to have had the honor to be famous film is the Golden Globe winner Paradise Now. Rawabi involved in Hany Abu Assad’s latest successful endeavor. joined the film as its primary financial backer to demonstrate that Palestinians have the resources, the talent and the know-how to build an all new industry of cinematic arts in our own country. To read a very special review of the Rawabi-sponsored Abu Assad was born and raised in Nazareth, and he has always film Omar by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad, visit embraced his heritage through film. Omar is a story of love, of http://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-nina-rothe/believing- hopelessness, of uncertainty, of violence and of the quest for hany-abu-assads_b_3313403.html justice; the themes of Palestinian existence. The film received a 20 21 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

Rawabi: A Destination for Palestinian University Students

Rawabi, as Palestine’s first new modern city, is a wonder to behold, depth with Rawabi’s technical teams on the topics of Urban set high atop ancient hills amidst a breathtaking landscape. It has Planning and Residential Design. The visits allowed the students attracted visitors from every walk of life and from every corner of to participate in a Q&A with the Rawabi teams, where the the globe, including potential Palestinian homeowners, families students delved deeply into areas of interest such as recycling of on weekend excursions to the countryside, journalists from every building materials, planning for environmental conservation, and major media outlet in the world, politicians, celebrities, VIPs… masterplanning of large scale developments. there is almost no category of guest that has not stopped by to pay a call at the Showroom. Another hot topic was safety and security on the construction site and how Rawabi protects the safety of the thousands of workers In particular, Rawabi is attracting droves of local Palestinian in an active and potentially dangerous environment. Part of the architectural and engineering students, who come singly and discussions centered on the speed of construction and how in large school groups to view the largest engineering and the city’s planners are managing to meet major milestones and construction project ever undertaken in Palestine. It’s unusual for deadlines. A final area of key interest was the radical change in Palestinian students to be exposed to a real-life application of the telecommunication infrastructure that is a part of the new city’s fields they are studying in college and to have the chance to see commercial core and residential areas. knowledge and technique applied in real time. The students expressed satisfaction with the knowledge that Recently, more than 50 male and female architecture students the city is being built by Palestinian engineers and architects, from Palestine Polytechnic University, Birzeit University, Al Najah underscoring that Palestine offers real career paths for the highly University, and Al Tireh College visited the site to engage in talented and ambitious students in attendance. 22 23 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013

The Hands that Build Rawabi

According to a statistical study undertaken by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the 2012-2013 year-over-year comparison Rawabi Visitors of the number of Palestinians working in Israeli settlements has dropped by more than 10,000 workers. In addition, the number of workers aged 15 years and older working in ّزوار روابــــي Palestine has risen dramatically in 2013 from 43% to 69%. Economic analysts have confirmed that private sector projects have contributed 1 significantly to the absorption of the increase in the Palestinian work force and are helping to combat the challenges of economic stagnation. The slowdown caused by the delay in delivery of vital government services and resultant economic disruptions have been at least somewhat offset by an increase in private sector activity. among the workers is very high. We all have how hard I worked, there was no job security a purpose here, and everyone is trained to and worse, I felt I was contributing negatively The city of Rawabi plays an important role in function at the upper range of their skill level. to the Palestinian cause. Now that I am the health of the Palestinian economy. More We are challenged to improve our production working at Rawabi, I have both job security than 3,000 workers are directly employed levels every day. It makes you love your and the feeling that I am doing something in the building of the new city, and at least work. For that reason, I know this project, for my country. I am paid well, I have annual 10,000 jobs in related services sectors are this city, is going to be a huge success.” leave and sick leave and best of all, I go home also sustained and expanded as the needs at night and enjoy the evening surrounded by His thoughts are echoed by his colleague and of the new city are met by Palestinian supply my family. You sleep well after a hard day’s fellow master stone mason Suleiman Omar. chains. work when your conscience is clear.” Omar has worked in his field for more than 2 As the sun rises over Palestine each day, 3 decades, and he brings that experience Fuad Abu Alya, age 22, dropped out of workers from villages and cities all over the to the 24-hour stone cutting operations at high school at 14 years of age to work in country are engaged in wide-ranging fields Rawabi. “Rawabi is a huge project,” Omar Israeli settlements. He is now working in 4 of work that feed into the construction of the said. “We’ve never had anything this big to construction at Rawabi and brings to his new city. From carpentry workshops to glass- work on in Palestine. We are working with job the passion and energy of his youth. makers to hardware and tool manufacturers, brothers and sisters from all over the country, “No matter how tight the deadlines we face the hum of activity is almost audible not only but we’re all here for the same purpose.” here, or how often we have to put in a few on site, but in surrounding villages and from Sala’eddin Barameh, a resident of Jenin and extra hours to get the job done, we are all cities as far away as Hebron, Jenin, Nablus a pipe fitter, has worked at Rawabi since its working on building something that will be and Tulkarem. inception, and has helped lay the pipes to part of my children’s future. Because we For more than two years, master stone cutter each building under construction. Barameh are building now on our own land, settlers Arafat Abu Rajab, has made the journey from states, “The needs of the project are so great are prevented from taking it. The knowledge Jamma’in near Nablus to Rawabi to work in that it’s easier for me to stay on site and that I am stopping Israelis from taking more the vital operations of Rawabi’s stone cutting only go home on the weekends. I miss my land makes me work harder and longer – facility. The stone used in construction at children, but I am supporting my family in a mistakes or fatigue are simply not options for Rawabi is excavated from the Rawabi hills way I was never able to prior to my work at us.” He adds, “Pride in your work is a great and carted down the hill to Abu Rajab’s Rawabi. And I know my wife and children motivator.” are proud of me, and the role I am playing factory, where it is cut, shaped and polished At day’s end, Rawabi’s pride, its local 3 in building this city. I am taking care of my into a myriad of shapes and sizes determined workforce, congratulate themselves and family, and I’m building Palestine as well. It’s by how and where it will be used in the new each other on another successful workday, a rewarding feeling.” city. and admire their handiwork. Knowing that Abu Rajab has been working as a master Many of Rawabi’s construction workers these homes are within their reach financially stone cutter for more than 18 years. “I have have been repatriated into the Palestinian broadens their own personal horizons, and 1. Yves Nidegger, Swiss Parliament Member. worked many places in my career, but never construction industry from the Israeli gives them even more reason to strive for 2. Al Quds Holding Board Members. in a place as well-managed as Rawabi,” settlement enterprise. Amer Zein Addin from perfection in their work. The next day, they 3. Stanford Alumni Association. he stated. “The safety measures in place the village of Majdal Bani Fadel near Nablus is will be back on the job, building their own 4. Teachers from Ajoul School. here are among the finest I have ever seen, one of those workers. “I had to work in futures and that of Palestine. and sense of camaraderie and team spirit to feed my children,” he said. “But no matter 24 25 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 ّزوار روابــــي Rawabi Visitors

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5. Davide La Cecilia, Italian Consul General & UK & Duncan Mitchell, Senior Vice President, 9. Lord Stephen Green, UK Minister of State for Trade Elena Clemente, Deputy Head of Mission. Emerging Theatre - CISCO Systems International and Investment. 6. Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country BV, UAE 10. Yousef Dajani, Chairman of Jerusalem District Director & Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief 8. Mousa Kumkam, Regional Manager & Maha Electricity Company (JDECO) & Senior Economist for MENA. Obaid, Ramallah Branch Manager - Ahli Management Delegation. 7. Andrew Levi, Vice President Europe, Middle Bank. East, Africa & Russia - CISCO Systems, 26 27 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 ّزوار روابــــي Rawabi Visitors 11

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11. Delegation from Leaders’ Quest. 15. Turkish International Chamber of Commerce 12. Palestinian-French Businessmen Association. - ICC. 17. Businessmen from Bahrain. 13. Yellow Pages Employees. 16. Students from Milken Community High School in Los Angeles. 18. Delegation from the President’s Office. 14. Senior British journalists. 28 29 SPRING SPRING 2013 2013 ّزوار روابــــي Rawabi Visitors 19

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24. Frédéric DESAGNEAUX, Consul General of 19. Swiss Parliament Members. 22. Junya Matsuura, Head of Representative Office of France & Julien Buissart, French Economic 20. Harold Paisner, Senior Partner of the international Japan to the State of Palestine. & Commercial Counselor for Palestinian law Firm Berwin Leighton Paisner. 23. Engineers Syndicate-Jerusalem. Territories . 21. Students from Harvard Kennedy School. 25. Simon Kouba Engineering Office. 26. Palestine Cellular Communications Company- Jawwal Staff. 30 SPRING 2013

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27. German Parliament Members of the Social Democratic Party. 28. Munief Treish, Ammar Real Estate General Manager & Senior Management Team. 29. German Delegation led by Professor Heinrich Fink, former president of the Humboldt University in Berlin. 30. A Group of American Philanthropists.